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The newly designed iftar box from Emirates is pictured ahead of the fasting month. (Emirates/-)

Fasting while traveling can be a challenge, especially on long-haul flights.

To cater to Muslims who are fasting during Ramadhan, Dubai-based airline Emirates is set to offer special Middle Eastern meals for iftar (breaking of the fast), starting from the beginning of the holy month on June 6.

Served in an iftar box, the menu will include za’atar-spiced chicken with hummus, spinach fatayer (pastries), halloumi cheese and cucumber sandwiches, traditional sweets such as mammoul cookies with dates, and yoghurt.

Passengers boarding from the carrier's hub at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 will receive a snack box full of pastries such as cheese fatayer and Arabic sweets like baklava. On certain routes, boxes of dates will also be provided close to iftar and prior to imsak (pre-dawn).

Aside from that, cold meals will be served in lieu of hot ones on all flights to Jeddah and Medina, including umroh (minor haj) day flights. The airline has also prepared a unique tool to inform passengers of the correct times to commence imsak and iftar while in-flight, which will be communicated by the captain. Arabic movies, TV programming and audio channels will be specially prepared as well as a Holy Quran channel.

Meanwhile, national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced via Twitter that it would offer special meals for Ramadhan on all its routes. Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad Airways also said it would offer dates and milk on top of its special iftar boxes for fasting travelers on most routes. (kes)